Homelessness continues to grow in Brisbane amid rental crisis. Source: ABC News
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has committed to putting $1 million into relocating people living in Brisbane parks to the empty $400 million COVID quarantine centre in Pinkenba.
However, Mr Schrinner has not spoken to the federal government who owns the facility.
“The federal government is prepared to work with the Queensland state government and the Brisbane City Council on this issue, but we have not received a formal request for the council or the state government to date. If a formal approach is made we will do what we can to work together on this issue,” a spokesperson for Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said.
Schrinner said the council is working towards an agreement with the state, saying, “We’re happy to work with the state government to put a proposal together. I’ll be meeting with the minister for housing Leeanne Enoch next week. We’ve locked that in.”
Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon then pointed out that the state does not own the facility.
“This is a federally owned facility, so it’s not something the state government controls,” Scanlon said.
“Housing needs are often very complex. It’s not just a roof over your head. It’s also all of those other supports. We’ll work with all levels of government to try and find solutions to make sure that we can help vulnerable Queenslanders.”
Ms Scanlon also said that the Pinkenba facility may not be the best solution for those homeless in Brisbane.
“Sometimes there’s more complexity to these matters. Quarantine facilities are built in a way that they’re designed to be away from people and services and so that’s why some of these things are more complex than you may originally anticipate,” she said.
